Philippines accuses China of illegal actions in South China Sea, water-cannoning their supplies
China maintained that it took the necessary action to deter Philippine ships which were trespassing and carrying illegal building materials, news agency Reuters reported on Sunday. The report mentions that the incident took place close to the Second Thomas Shoal, which is referred to as Ayungin Shoal by Manila. The area is a submerged reef where a small number of its troops reside on an old US ship from World War Two that was deliberately grounded in 1999.
"We call on the China Coast Guard and the Central Military Commission to act with prudence and be responsible in their actions to prevent miscalculations and accidents that will endanger people's lives," the Philippines armed forces said. "We urge the Philippine side to immediately stop its infringing activities in these waters," China Coast Guard spokesman Gan Yu responded and asserted the country's claim over the disputed Spratly Islands. The tensions are not new as other countries in the region like Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan, and the Philippines reject China's claim over the areas of the South China Sea.
The countries warn China against any maritime actions in the disputed areas like building islands on reefs etc. The matter even went to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague and in its 2016 ruling the international court ruled that all claims of China to the South China Sea were groundless. As expected, China rejected the ruling and continued its dangerous maneuvers in the South China Sea.
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